THE GENDER FACTOR IN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION: AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE STRENGTH OF ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN IN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION (HEALTH CARE, MANAGEMENT)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of a sex role stereotype directed at women in healthcare using the Attitude Toward Women as Managers Scale (Peters, Terborg and Taynor, 1974). The subjects consisted of 200 Chief Executive Officers of hospitals across the nation. The Attitude Toward Women as Managers Scale and a social characteristics instrument were mailed to each study participant. The social characteristics instrument provided data on personal, professional and organizational characteristics of the respondent. There were 140 responses (70%) to the mailing of the survey instruments. A significant relationship was found to exist between strength of attitude toward women in management and the sex of the respondent tested using one-way analysis of variance. Of the predictor variables selected for study, the total time in present position as Chief Executive Officer and the personal characteristic of number of children were found to be significant predictors of explained variance using multiple regression analysis. There was no significant relationship found between the predictor variables of age, education level, region of the country, marital status, total work experience, title, hospital size and type of hospital governance. Significant differences between male and female Chief Executive Officers did exist. These included: (1) the governance of the hospital with females predominantly administering church-related hospitals, and (2) the personal characteristic of number of children with the females predominantly single and childless. This study did identify a significant difference in attitudes toward women in health care management which may serve to limit opportunities for women in hospital administration.
This paper has been withdrawn.